Huijsen’s World Cup spot is no sure thing — competition is heating up and doubts are growing

Dean Huijsen’s place at the World Cup is far less secure than it once seemed. He’s still the frontrunner, still well‑positioned, but the confidence around his name has cooled. His performances haven’t locked in his ticket, and the battle for the final center‑back slot is now wide open.

Spain’s 26‑man roster will be announced on May 25 — the Monday after the league season ends — and roughly 20 spots are already considered locked in. The remaining six are up for grabs, and one of them is the final center‑back role. Huijsen still leads that race… but with much less margin than before. From Las Rozas, the message is clear: his World Cup presence is not guaranteed.

Guaranteed slots for Cubarsí, Laporte… and Pubill

Two center‑backs are absolute certainties: Cubarsí and Laporte. They’re expected to start together, though the final decision will come down to form and match performance. But barring injury, they’re going.

Another near‑certainty is this season’s breakout star, Pubill. He missed the March call‑up with a rib issue, but if selected, he’d make his senior debut at a World Cup after winning gold at the 2024 Olympics. His inclusion would be pure merit.

A red‑hot race for the final spot

From there, it’s an open casting call. Huijsen still leads the race to be the fourth center‑back, but the pressure behind him is intense.

Huijsen has serious competition.

A shaky season at the worst possible moment

The doubts aren’t random — they come from his uneven season. He started strong but faded badly down the stretch. As the most expensive defender in Real Madrid history (about $63 million), expectations were sky‑high. He didn’t meet them.

He played 38 of 54 matches, starting 35. Only twice was he left out for technical reasons. Early on he partnered Militão; later, Rüdiger. But his influence and confidence declined, and the turning point came in Munich, when Arbeloa benched him for Militão–Rüdiger on the biggest night of the season.

The numbers don’t help him either:

Not all his fault, but not flattering for someone signed to be a defensive anchor.

Minutes played… but momentum lost

He’s logged 60% of Madrid’s total minutes (2,928 of 4,860), the eighth‑most in the squad. But his season has been a downward curve, not an upward one.

Since the first leg against Bayern, he’s started only 3 of the last 7 matches, and a bout of the flu forced him out of El Clásico just five minutes before kickoff — an unusual and unfortunate twist.

He’s expected to feature against Sevilla, but even his starting role is uncertain.

On the preliminary list — but far from safe

Huijsen is on Spain’s 55‑man preliminary list, which is the first step. But from there, the fight is brutal. Since breaking through in the Nations League, he has only been called up twice more (missing two camps due to injury). In the most recent window, he played only the second match — the one typically reserved for backups.

He hasn’t arrived at this decisive moment with the strength he hoped for. He’s still the favorite for the final center‑back spot… but far from a lock.

From Las Rozas, the message is repeated:There are serious doubts. His World Cup spot is not secure.

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